Item Description
Original Item: One-of-a-kind. This is an exceptional A2 leather flight jacket issued to a Lieutenant G.S. Tate who was a Bombardier in the 15th Air Force, 456th Bombardment Group, 745th Bomb Squadron who's motto was Liberantus Lardassarus Rex.
Fantastic Russet brown leather Type A-2 flight jacket from World War II in size 40. Manufacturer tag inside neck reads:
Type A-2
DWG No. 30-1415
A.C. Order No. 42–16175
Perry Sportswear Inc
Newburgh, N.Y.
Property
Air Force, U. S. Army
An faded ink inspection stamp can be seen below the data label. The jacket itself features incredible hand-painted insignia, including: a set of 50 yellow-and-black bombs to right chest; an Italian made leather 15th Air Force patch to left shoulder; a hand-burned branded leather Bombardier wing patch stitched above the painted name "Tate," and a large custom leather 745th Lardassarus Rex patch on the left chest. The back of the jacket bears an even more detailed and impressive hand-painted image of a B-24 Liberator Lardassarus Rex emblem. The jacket is in functional, original condition, with Conmar zipper to front, two front pouch pockets, and original knitted waist with cuffs.
Also included: a cream-colored souvenir silk scarf that measures 15.5" x 47.5" bearing an Lardassarus Rex emblem above the lettering Isle of Capri; a pair sterling silver pilot wings; a pair of matching Air Force collar pins with snowflake patterns on reverse, one missing its pin back; and an embroidered blue felt Air Force patch 2.5" in diameter. In overall very good to fine condition.
The grouping is accompanied by a year 2000 certificate of authenticity from Manion's Auction House, as well as an off-white 9.5 x 7.5 inch print of the "Liberantus Lardassarus Rex," showing the emblem and listing ten members of the 745th Bombardment Squadron, including "Lt. G. S. Tate," the original owner of this jacket.
Other members of his crew, as seen in the print, include the following men all of whom appear in the 496th Bomb Group website roster. Tate does not appear on the website but neither do a few other members of his crew, and the website roster is by no means complete.
Lieutenant Curtis F. Ashley https://www.456bg.org/ashley-curtis-a9109-456bg.cfm
Lieutenant Kemp D. Solcher https://www.456bg.org/solcher-kemp-s9385-456bg.cfm
Lieutenant John D. Krepp https://www.456bg.org/krepp-john-k5750-456bg.cfm
Sergeant Joseph F. Arcangeli https://www.456bg.org/arcangeli-joseph-a4028-456bg.cfm
Staff Sergeant Kenneth B. Blake https://www.456bg.org/blake-kenneth-b8547-456bg.cfm
Established in mid-1943 as a B-24 Liberator heavy bombardment group; trained under Second Air Force. Deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO), being assigned to Southern Italy at Stornara Airfield under Fifteenth Air Force.
Engaged in very long range strategic bombardment of enemy military, industrial and transportation targets. Operations included attacks against such objectives as marshalling yards, aircraft factories, railroad bridges, and airdromes in Italy, Austria, and Romania. Helped to prepare the way for and supported the invasion of Southern France during Jul and August 1944. At the same time, expanded previous operations to include attacks on oil refineries and storage facilities, locomotive works, and viaducts in France, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Austria, and the Balkans.
Returned to the United States after the German Capitulation in May 1945; re-manned and re-equipped as a B-29 Superfortress heavy bombardment squadron. Began training under Second Air Force in August 1945, however was inactivated in October after the Japanese Capitulation.
This exceptional A-2 jacket is sure to be a focal point of any WWII collection!
- This product is available for international shipping.
- Eligible for all payments - Visa, Mastercard, Discover, AMEX, Paypal & Sezzle
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